Liquid dispensing container

ABSTRACT

A fluid dispensing assembly for use with mop-like devices. The assembly adapts to mop-like devices and utilizes a collapsible fluid reservoir pouch preferably contained within a substantially rigid housing. The collapsible fluid reservoir pouch permits fluid dispensing without need for venting. The assembly preferably utilizes one or the other of a fluid conducting needle and a venting needle found in a fluid disbursement fitment of commercially available mop-like devices, but the needles are not used to puncture membranes in a fluid reservoir. Rather, they provide mechanical force to actuate a valve that is used to permit flow of fluid from the fluid reservoir to the fluid disbursement fitment.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No.61/483,208, filed May 6, 2011, the disclosure of which is incorporatedin its entirety by reference thereto.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to the field of cleaningdevices. More particularly, the invention is directed toward a liquiddispensing assembly for use with mop-like devices.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Many mop-like consumer/home cleaning devices utilize a liquid containingreservoir which is in fluid communication a disbursement means by way ofa fitment that relies on puncturing means to pierce through a membraneof the reservoir to establish the fluid communication. The puncturingmeans are typically one or more sharp hollow needles. The sharp needlescan cause mild to severe injury if a consumer is inadvertently prickedor stabbed thereby.

Additionally, consumer/home cleaning devices typically utilize asubstantially rigid walled fluid reservoir, such as one made out ofmetal or plastic. This requires the use of venting to replace a volumeof ambient air equal to the volume of fluid dispensed from the fluidreservoir in order to prevent the formation of a depression in thereservoir that would render fluid dispensing difficult. Venting requiresadditional manufacturing steps which can increase the cost of thesystem.

In this connection, U.S. Pat. No. 6,321,941 discloses the use ofreservoir piercing means comprising two needles in a preferredembodiment. The patent acknowledges the risk of consumer injury fromneedle puncture and discloses a preferred embodiment that utilizes aspring loaded protecting plate to prevent access to the needles when theappliance contains no reservoir. One needle is connected to a pumpingmeans to facilitate the flow of fluid from the reservoir and a secondneedle utilizing a one-way valve or venting membrane for letting airinto the reservoir as liquid is dispensed from the reservoir, therebypreventing depression or collapse of the walls of the substantiallyrigid walled reservoir as liquid is dispensed therefrom.

A need therefore exists in the art to provide means for the initiationof fluid communication from a fluid container through a fitment of afluid disbursement means without relying on sharp puncture meansoperable to puncture a membrane of the fluid container.

A further need exists in the art for a reservoir that does not requireventing to facilitate the dispensing of fluid.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to overcome the limitations anddisadvantages of prior liquid dispensing mop-like cleaning devices andsimilar devices.

It is a further object of the invention to provide means for dispensingfluid from a reservoir by using mechanical force to actuate a checkvalve to facilitate fluid communication from the reservoir to a fluiddisbursing means without requiring the use of needles to puncture amembrane.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a reservoir made of aflexible, collapsible, and preferably replaceable reservoir pouch heldwithin a preferably cage-like, optionally open-topped, housing. As afurther general object of the invention, fluid is dispensed from thepouch, thereby causing the pouch to collapse and equilibrate pressurecaused by the loss of liquid volume and, therefore, eliminating the needfor venting. It is a further general object of the invention for thehousing to connect the pouch to the fluid disbursing means.

Other details, objects and advantages of the present invention willbecome apparent as the following description of the presently preferredembodiments and presently preferred methods of practicing the inventionproceeds.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will become more readily apparent from the followingdescription of preferred embodiments thereof shown, by way of exampleonly, in the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a reservoir pouch disposed within ahousing according to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic sectional view showing an embodiment of thepresent invention wherein a reservoir pouch is disposed within a housingand is connected to a fluid disbursing means; and

FIG. 3 is a schematic sectional view showing another embodiment of thepresent invention wherein a reservoir pouch is disposed within a housingand is connected to a fluid disbursing means.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to the drawings, wherein like or similar references indicatelike or similar elements throughout the several views, there is shown inFIG. 1 a combined fluid dispensing assembly, generally identified byreference numeral 10, reflecting one preferred embodiment of the presentinvention. As seen in FIG. 1, assembly 10 includes a housing 12 and areservoir pouch 14. Housing 12, which is preferably substantiallycage-like and optionally open-topped in construction, connects reservoirpouch 14 to a liquid dispensing portion of a mop-like cleaning device(not depicted), such as that, for example, disclosed in U.S. Pat. No.6,321,941, the disclosure of which is incorporated in its entirety byreference thereto. Housing 12 can be constructed of any suitablesubstantially rigid material, such as metal or plastic. In a preferredembodiment, housing 12 is constructed from plastic. Reservoir pouch 14can be fabricated from any pliant material or materials suitable forholding liquid and collapsing as a volume of liquid is dispensed, suchas, for example, plastic, metalized films, rubber or latex.

As also seen in FIG. 1, housing 12 preferably includes a recessed areaor notch 16 which is adapted to receive a corresponding latch or tab(not shown) of the type described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,321,941 whereby thehousing functions as an adaptor for releasably securing the reservoirpouch 14 to a fluid disbursing means. As described in detail below withregard to FIG. 2, assembly 10 is enclosed by a fitment interface cap 23which defines a reservoir compartment 20 (these elements correspondingto elements 123 and 120, respectively, in FIG. 3). The reservoircompartments 20 and 120 are sealed by caps 23, 123 to prevent fluidloss.

FIG. 2 depicts assembly 10 as it would appear when situated incommunication with a partially illustrated fluid disbursement means.Fluid disbursement means desirably comprises a fitment of a typeexemplified in the relevant field of art, such as the type disclosed inU.S. Pat. No. 6,321,941 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,386,392. As is known, atypical such fluid disbursement fitment is characterized by fluidreservoir membrane piercing means including a pair of hollow needles.More particularly, piercing means includes a first hollow needle 18 anda second hollow needle 24. In conventional fitments, needle 18 conveysliquid from a fluid reservoir and needle 24 is a vent needle thatpermits ingress of atmospheric air into the reservoir as liquid isdispensed therefrom in order to equilibrate the volume of liquiddischarged with the volume of air taken in, thereby preventing collapseof the reservoir walls and maintaining effective fluid flow through thesystem.

Similar to conventional vented fluid dispensing systems, needle 18 isused in the present invention as a means for enabling liquid to betransferred from a fluid reservoir to a fluid disbursement means. Asseen in FIG. 2, when assembly 10 is fully connected to a mop-likecleaning device fitment, needle 18 slides into a raised pocket seal 22carried by interface cap 23. The raised pocket seal 22 does not allow orrequire needle 18 to puncture a membrane in order to communicate fluidfrom reservoir pouch 14. Instead, pocket seal 22 has an opening or hole25, preferably located generally opposite the point of entry for needle18, which opening permits fluid that has been dispensed from pouch 14into chamber 20 to pass into the needle 18. A preferred manner by whichfluid passes from the pouch 14 to chamber 20 is discussed below. As isknown, needle 18 is connected to a fluid disbursement tube (not shown).

As noted above, in conventional constructions, second needle 24functions as a vent. However, the reservoir pouch 14 according to thepresent invention does not require air venting to facilitate dispensingof fluid therefrom. Consequently, in the embodiment of the inventionreflected in FIG. 2, the second needle 24 is not utilized for itsordinary venting purpose. Instead, second needle 24 is used to supply orapply mechanical force to actuate a preferably spring-biased andchanneled check valve 26 which provides controlled flow of fluid fromreservoir pouch 14 to reservoir compartment 20. Thus, when assembly 10is fully connected to a mop-like cleaning device, second needle 24enters into a sealed bellows 28 which is constructed and arranged tocontact an actuator arm 29 of check valve 26. The mechanical forceexerted by needle 24 impacting bellows 28 causes the bellows to pushagainst arm 29 of the check valve 26. This, in turn, causes the checkvalve 26 to rise into the inner volume of reservoir pouch 14. In sodoing, a fluid seal 30 of check valve 26 is elevated from sealingcontact with a dividing wall 33 located between reservoir pouch 14 andreservoir compartment 20. This raised position of check valve 26 isreferred to in this embodiment as the open position.

Bellows 28 does not allow or require second needle 24 to puncture theend of the bellows 28 opposite the second needle entry point. Towardthat end, bellows 28 is preferably capped with a structure sufficientlystrong and durable to withstand piercing by second needle 24, such ashard plastic, metal or the like.

In the open position, i.e., when second needle 24 applies force to theactuator arm 29, check valve 26 rises into the inner volume of reservoirpouch 14 whereby fluid in reservoir pouch 14 flows through channels orsimilar fluid communication structure (not depicted) of the check valve26 and into the volume of reservoir compartment 20. With the check valve26 in the open position, fluid from reservoir compartment 20 furtherflows into the hole 25 in raised pocket seal 22, through the fluidneedle 18 and out through a disbursement tube (not depicted).

As will be appreciated, when assembly 10 is not fully connected to amop-like cleaning device, the second needle 24 does not apply force tothe actuator arm 29 of the check valve 26, whereby fluid flow from thereservoir pouch 14 to reservoir compartment 20 is prevented by fluidseal 30. This is referred to in this embodiment as the closed position.In other words, in the closed position fluid seal 30 is urged intosealing contact with the dividing wall 33 between reservoir pouch 14 andreservoir compartment 20. In the closed position, fluid in reservoirpouch 14 can no longer flow through the fluid communication structure ofcheck valve 26, and, accordingly, the fluid flow is interrupted. Inanother embodiment, check valve 26 is not spring biased, but maintains aclosed position by the fluid pressure within reservoir pouch 14 whenassembly 10 is not fully connected to a mop-like device but that, whenhousing assembly 10 is fully connected to a mop-like device, opens uponmovement of needle 24 against actuator arm 29.

FIG. 3 reveals another embodiment of the invention. More specifically,FIG. 3 depicts a fluid dispensing assembly 110 comprised of a housing112 surrounding a reservoir pouch 114 (which may be of similarconstruction to housing 12 and reservoir pouch 14 of FIGS. 1 and 2)situated in communication with a partially illustrated fluiddisbursement fitment. In this embodiment, needle 18 enters reservoircompartment 120 through an O-ring 132 carried by fitment interface cap123 when assembly 110 is fully connected to a mop-like cleaning device(not depicted). O-ring 132 is designed to permit needle 18 to enter intoreservoir compartment 120 while sealingly receiving the needle 18, i.e.,it prevents fluid loss around the needle entry point. As needle 18enters reservoir compartment 120, it applies mechanical force to actuatea preferably spring biased check valve 126 against its bias. This forcecauses check valve 126 to rise into the inner volume of reservoir pouch114. In so doing, fluid seal 130 is elevated from sealing contact with adividing wall 133 situated between reservoir pouch 114 and reservoircompartment 120. This raised position is referred to in this embodimentas the open position.

In the open position, i.e., when needle 18 applies force to the checkvalve 126, the check valve rises into the inner volume of reservoirpouch 114 whereby fluid in reservoir pouch 114 flows through channels orsimilar fluid communication structure (not depicted) of the check valve126 and into the volume of reservoir compartment 120. With the checkvalve 126 in this position, fluid from reservoir pouch 114 flows intoreservoir compartment 120, through needle 18 and out through a fluiddisbursement tube (not depicted).

It will be appreciated that when assembly 110 is not fully connected toa mop-like cleaning device, needle 18 does not apply force to the checkvalve 126, whereby fluid flow from the reservoir pouch 114 to reservoircompartment 120 is prevented by fluid seal 130. This is referred to inthis embodiment as the closed position. In other words, in the closedposition fluid seal 130 is urged into sealing contact with the dividingwall 133 situated between reservoir pouch 114 and reservoir compartment120.

In the closed position, fluid in reservoir pouch 114 can no longer flowthrough the channels or other fluid communication structure in the checkvalve 126, and, accordingly, the fluid flow is interrupted. In anotherembodiment, check valve 126 is not spring biased, but maintains a closedposition by the fluid pressure within reservoir pouch 114 when thereservoir and housing assembly 110 is not fully connected to a mop-likedevice but that, when assembly 110 is fully connected to a mop-likedevice, opens upon movement of needle 24 against check valve 126.

When assembly 110 is fully connected to a mop-like cleaning device,needle 24 enters through an opening 138 in fitment interface cap 123into a needle receiving chamber 136. Receiving chamber 136 is isolatedfrom fluid communication with reservoir compartment 120 and does notreceive fluid therefrom. Receiving chamber 136 is designed merely toaccommodate needle 24 during operation of the mop-like cleaning device,but otherwise serves no purpose related to venting or fluiddisbursement.

Although the invention has been described in detail for the purpose ofillustration, it is to be understood that such detail is solely for thatpurpose and that variations can be made therein by those skilled in theart without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention asclaimed herein.

1. A fluid dispensing assembly adapted for use with a fluid disbursementfitment comprising: a collapsible reservoir pouch containing a fluid;and means including a check valve for conducting fluid from saidreservoir pouch to a fluid disbursement fitment.
 2. The assembly ofclaim 1 wherein said means for conducting fluid utilizes a needle of afluid disbursement fitment to apply mechanical force to displace saidcheck valve, thereby allowing fluid to flow from said reservoir pouchinto the fluid disbursement fitment.
 3. The assembly of claim 2 whereina needle of a fluid disbursement fitment via which mechanical force isapplied to displace said check valve is operable to receive fluid fromsaid reservoir pouch.
 4. The assembly of claim 2 wherein a needle of afluid disbursement fitment via which mechanical force is applied todisplace said check valve is not operable to receive fluid from saidreservoir pouch.
 5. The assembly of claim 1 further comprising a fitmentinterface cap defining a reservoir compartment in fluid communicationwith said reservoir pouch and the fluid disbursement fitment.
 6. Theassembly of claim 5 wherein said fitment interface cap further defines aneedle receiving chamber, said needle receiving chamber being isolatedfrom fluid communication with said reservoir compartment.
 7. Theassembly of claim 1 further comprising a fitment interface cap includinga bellows for receiving a needle of a fluid disbursement fitment and forcontacting said check valve, wherein the needle is operable to applyforce to displace said check valve.
 8. The assembly of claim 7 whereinsaid fitment interface cap further includes a pocket seal for receivinganother needle of the fluid disbursement fitment, said pocket sealincluding an opening in fluid communication with the fluid disbursementfitment.
 9. The assembly of claim 1 further comprising a fitmentinterface cap including an O-ring for sealingly receiving a needle ofthe fluid disbursement fitment whereby fluid may flow from saidreservoir pouch into the needle.
 10. The assembly of claim 9 wherein theneedle is operable to apply force to displace said check valve.
 11. Theassembly of claim 1 further comprising a housing surrounding saidreservoir pouch.
 12. The assembly of claim 11 wherein said housing ismade of rigid material.
 13. The assembly of claim 11 wherein saidhousing is constructed substantially as a cage.
 14. The assembly ofclaim 11 wherein said housing has an open top.